Tag Archives: Seals

Revelation 9

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Revelation 9: Wars and Plagues

                The Fifth Angel sounded; “…I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth; and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit… and there arose a smoke out of the pit… and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit. And there came out of the smoke locust upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power… it was commanded of them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing… but only those men which have not the seal of God on their foreheads…” (Revelation 9:1-4) Here we have the Fifth Angel sounding the trumpet and a large hole opening from the earth, this hole would darken the sun and the air (so thick black air) and out of the smoke will come Locusts that have the ability to sting like scorpions, basically flying scorpions come out of the smoke. These locusts are commanded to only hurt men (and women) who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads. Essentially they are commanded to only go after the wicked people of the earth.

In the next verse we read; “…to them [the locusts] it was given that they should not kill them [the wicked people], but that they should be tormented five months…And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.” (Revelation 9:5-6) So when this Fifth Angel sounds the trumpets, all the wicked people of the earth will be stun by locusts [essentially flying scorpions] and be tormented to the point of wanting to die, but be unable to die! John describes the locusts as “…horses prepared unto battle… faces of men… hair of women… teeth of lions… breastplates of iron… sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle… tails like unto scorpions…” (Revelation 9:7-10) John also explains that they are led into “battle” by Abaddon, which in Greek is Apollyon. Apollyon means destruction and is often times used to describe Satan.

Will there really be locusts that can sting like scorpions? The simple answer is no. We must understand that John was describing things that he saw from a perspective of his time. How would someone from thousands of years past describe an airplane, tank, machine gun? In the words and descriptions of that time, so perhaps the “locusts” he saw were actually modern infantry coming out of thick dark smoke that was caused from bombs. We don’t know, and we won’t know. But we can kind of understand what John might have been seeing.

The Sixth Angel sounded; “…and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God. Saying to the sixth angel… Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates. And the four angels were release… [and]… were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year… to slay the third part of men… by these three was the third part of men killed.” (Revelation 9:13-15; 18) John explains that these last third of the worlds wicked were to be destroyed, because they never once felt bad for their sins and never desired to repent.

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Revelation 8

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Revelation 8: Destruction in the Last Days

                John describes what he sees when the angel opens the seven seals of the book; “…there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour. And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets.” (Revelation 8:1-2) and another angel came and stood by the altar, having a gold censer [container of burning incense] and the angel offered prayers on the alter, which made their way up to God. Then angel then took the censer and cast it onto the ground burning, and there were; “…voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and a earthquake. And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.” (Revelation 8:5)

The Seven Angels Sound their Trumpets

                The First Angel sounded; “…and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of the trees was burnt up, and all green grass burnt up.” (Revelation :7)

The Second Angel sounded; “…as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea; and a third part of the sea became blood; And the third part of the creatures where were in the sea… died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed.” (Revelation 8:8-9)

The Third Angel sounded; “…and there fell a great start from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters; And the name of the star is called wormwood… and many men died in the waters, because they were made bitter.” (Revelation 8:10-11)

The Fourth Angel sounded; “…and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them were darkened…” (Revelation 8:12)

“…I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound.” (Revelation 8:13)

The worst hasn’t even arrived from all the trumpets, yet everything is already in chaos, and the angels lament seeing mankind ruin themselves.

Revelation 6

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Revelation 6: The Sixth Seal: “The Signs of the Times”

The Lamb opens the seals, which open a series of visions before John;

  1. John sees a white horse, whose rider has a bow and a crown, and is a conqueror.
  2. John sees a red horse, whose rider brings war and conflict, and wields a great sword.
  3. John sees  a black horse, whose rider has a pair of scales.
  4. John sees  a pale horse, whose rider is Death, with power to kill by the sword, hunger and the beasts of the earth.
  5. John sees  martyrs crying for vengeance. They are told to wait a while longer, until those destined for martyrdom complete their number.
  6. John sees  a great earthquake; the sun becomes black, the moon red as blood. The stars fall to the earth. The rich and powerless flee, saying to the mountains and rocks; “…Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb.” (Revelation 6:16)

Ezekiel 1-2

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Ezekiel 1-2

Chapter 1: Vision of Four Creatures

In the fifth year of Jehoiachin’s captivity, by the river Chebar, Ezekiel has a vision that comes from a whirlwind from the north. In the vision he saw four living creatures with four wings (each touching the wing of another) and four faces (man, lion, ox, eagle), and of the four wheels they appeared to be wheels within wheels. Above them is the firmament, where Ezekiel sees one with the appearance of a man sitting on a throne. The vision comes from a whirlwind from the north.

Parts of this vision are familiar:

  • The creatures with touching wings (verse 11) are similar to the golden cherubim in the inner sanctuary of tabernacle and temple (Exodus 25:18-20; 1 Kings 6:23-28).
  • The creatures are like the seraphim that surround God’s throne in Isaiah’s vision, with outstretched wings and others covering their body (Isaiah 6:2).

Chapter 2: The Sealed Book

God addresses Ezekiel as the son of man. He says the children of Israel have transgressed. Ezekiel is commanded to take the word of the Lord to Israel. God tells Ezekiel “…be not afraid of them…” (Ezekiel 2:6) A scroll is shown to Ezekiel; “…when I looked,behold an hand was sent unto me; and lo, a roll of a book was therein; and he spread it before me; and it was written within and without: and there was written therein lamentations, and mourning, and woe.” (Ezekiel 2:9-10)

 

This same scroll is supposed to be the book of the Seven Seals that was spoken of in Revelations 5:1. Lamentations, mourning and woe would occur with this book.